Dausch



E. DAUSCH DRAFTING MECHANISM FOR SPINNING MACHINES 2 Sheets-Shed'l 2 Jan. 13, 1959 Filed Dec. 8, 1955 United States Patent O DRAFTING MECHANISM FOR SPINNING MACHINES Erwin Dausch, Esslingen Neckar, Germany, assignor to SKF Kugellagerfabriken G. m. b. H., Schweinfurt, Germany Application December 8, 1955, Serial No. 551,782

Claims priority, application Germany December 18, 1954 13 Claims. (Cl. 19-135) The present invention relates to drafting mechanisms used in textile machines to treat the yarns just before they reach the spinning part of a spinning machine.

As is well known, such drafting mechanisms include pairs of top and bottom rolls which nip the yarns as they move along the drawing plane. Although many structures are known for supporting the top rolls of such a drafting mechanism, such structures are in general fairly costly and complicated.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide an exceedingly simple structure for carrying the top rolls of a drafting mechanism.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a drafting mechanism where the elements which carry the top rolls have a minimum amount of connections to other elements and are provided with a high degree of freedom of movement.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a top rolls carrying structure which is characterized not only by great simplicity but also by extreme ruggedness of construction and reliability in operation.

With the above objects in view the present invention mainly consists of a drafting mechanism which includes a frame means and an elongated support means carried by the frame means for movement to and from an operating position. An arm means is carried by the frame means for carrying the top rolls themselves, and this arm means includes at least a pair of top rolls carrying arms which are linked together. A means is provided for urging the arms downwardly toward the drawing plane when the support means is in its operating position.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specie embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a partly sectional side elevational view of a drafting mechanism according to the present invention, the upper portion of Fig. 1 being shown in section and the section of Fig. 1 being taken along line 1 1 of Fig. 2 in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 2 is a sectional plan view taken along the line 2 2 of Fig. l in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken along line 3 3 of Fig. l in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional View taken along line 4 4 of Fig. 1 in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 5 5 of Fig. 1 in the direction of the arrows;

' Fig. 6 is a sectional elevational view of a top rolls carrying arm provided with a means for adjustably positioning the top rolls carried thereby;

Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic illustration of a variation of the top rolls carrying structure of the invention; and

Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic illustration of still another embodiment of a top rolls carrying structure according to the present invention.

Referring now to the drawings and to Figs. 1-5 in particular, it will be seen that a stationary frame 10 of conventional construction is provided. This frame 10 carries in a known way the bottom rolls 27, 27a, and 27b. At its rear end portion the frame 10 carries a pivot pin 12, and an elongated support 11 is pivotally connected at its rear end portion to the frame 10 through the medium of the pivot pin 12, this elongated support 11 being turnable upwardly from the operating position shown in Fig. 1 to an inoperative position and then back again to the operating position illustrated in Fig. 1.

The elongated support means 11 is in the form of an elongated channel member of U-shaped cross section which is open at the bottom, as is clearly illustrated in Fig. 3. Furthermore, as is evident from Figs. 1, 2, and 5, the frame 10 is provided with a pair of upwardly extending ears between which the pivot pin 12 extends, and the support 11 is located at its rear end portion between these ears, the support having at the rear portion of its side' walls a pair of inwardly extending hubs 20 through which the pivot pin 12 passes, as is shown most celarly in Fig. 5.

A conventional means is provided for releasably holding the support means 11 in its operating position,and this means includes the catch member 14 which is substantially U-shaped and which has a top leg extending across the top of the support 11 and a pair of side legs extending downwardly along and beyond the sides of the support 11, these legs terminating in the hook portions 18 one of which is shown in Fig. 1. The member 14 is provided at its top portion with a downwardly extending lug 15 which extends freely through an opening 16 formed in the top wall of the elongated support 11, this lug 15 being formed with an opening through which a wavy leaf spring 17 passes, as shown in Fig. 1. vThis leaf spring 17 .engages the underside of the top wall of the support means 11, and urges the catch 14 in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 1, the catch 14 having at its top leg a concave underside which engages a convex projection of the support 11, as shown in Fig. 1, so that in this way the catch 14 is pivotally carried by the support 11 within the limits of freedom provided by the lug 15 within the opening 16. In order to release the support means 11 for movement to its inoperative position, it is only necessary to turn the catch 14 in a clockwise direction slightly, against the inuence of the spring 17, so as to disengage the hook portions 18 from the stationary projections 19 of the frame means 10 which respectively cooperate with the hook portions 18, as is clearly evident from Figs. l and 2. Then the support means 11 may be turnedupwardly towards its inoperative position. In returning the support means to its operating position, the hook por-v tions 18 simply ride over the projections 19 and snap under the same in order to releasably hold the support 11 in the operating position thereof shown in Fig. 1.

In accordance with the present invention a top rolls carrying arm means is provided to carry the top rolls,

and this arm means is in turn connected to the support means 11 for movement therewith to and from its operating position. The top rolls carrying arm means includes an elongated rear arm 22 which is located between the side walls of the support means 11 and which has a rear end portion 21 formed with a bore through which the pivot pin 12 extends, so that the rear top rolls carrying arm 22 is turnable with the support means 11 about the pin 12 and at the same time is turnable with respect to the support means 11 about the pin 12. As

is shown most clearly in Fig. 5, the bore of the rear this bore -has a minimum diameter at .its central portion connected to a saddle 23, as by being-,forrnedr integrally' therewith, andthe shafty 251 of` apair of top rolls 26 which' cooperate with the bottom rolls 27 isA inoperative engagement with thev saddle. 23; A2 spring 24v ixed to the saddle 23' maintains the shaft 25 in its operating position iny a Well known manner. Atits forward end the. top rolls carrying ar1n-22 is provided. with a pairy of forwardly extending ears 33 which are laterally spaced fromy each other. and which carry apivot pin 34 which. extends between the ears 33. A- second topv rolls carrying arm: 22a isprovided at itsrearend portion. with a bore through. Which the pivot pin 34 passes, so that in this way the top rolls carrying arm 22a' is pivotally linked to the. top rollsI carrying arm. 22 and extends forwardly from. the

same.

, A spring 32.is located betweenand engages the support 11 and the arm 22,V in the manner shown in' Fig'. 1,. to, urge the arm. 22y downwardly toward the drawing plane whenthe support 11 is in .the operating position shown in Fig. 1, inV order to provide the desired pressure between the top rolls 26'v andthe cooperating bottomrolls 27. A stopmember 28 of substantially L- shapedcross section is iixedftol the arm 22, as by being formed integrally' therewith, and extends upwardly therefrom in the manner shown in; Fig. 1, the stop' member 2 8 having at its top portiona forwardly extending projection 29. A second stop member 31.is xed tothe support 11i as by being. formed. integrally therewith, -and this stop member 31 alsov is ofa substantially L-shaped constructionand has a rearwardly extending. projection 30y located beneath the projection. 29 in. the. manner shown most clearly in. Fig. 1.. Thus, when the. support means 11 is turned upwardly to its inoperative position, the .projection 30 which is located in the path. of movement of the projection 29' will engage thelatter and in. this wayA limit.

the downward movement ofthe top rolls carrying arm 22 with respect to the supportlllf `'I'he construction of the top rolls carrying arm 22av is substantially thesame as th'at'of the top rolls carrying arm 22, and the corresponding parts. are indicated with the same numerals designatingv the' parts associated with arm 22 followed by theletter a. Thus, it will be seen that the arm 22a is fixed' to a saddle 23a which. operatively engages a shaft 25a of apair of.` top rolls 26a which respectively cooperate with the bottom rolls 27a, the spring 24a retaining the shaft 25a in its operative position with respect to the saddle 23a. Furthermoreth spring 32a urges the arm 22a downwardly toward the drawing planeV in the operating position of the parts shown: in. Fig. 1, and the. stops 28a', 29a and 30a, 31a' limit the downward. movement of the'y arm 22a withr'espect to the support means 1I whenthe latteris' turned upwardly to' its inoperativerpos'iti'on.

`The arm 22a also is provided with av pair of forwardly extending ears 33a which carry a pivotpin 34a, and' the forwardmost top rolls carrying arm 22b of Fig.- 1 is pivotally carried at its-'rear end portion by the pi'v'ot pin 34a, the structure of arm 2211V and the parts cooperating therebeing identical with the corresponding elements of` arms 22 and 22a and being indicated with the same numerals followed by the letter b, as is indicated in Fig.- l. It will be noted that the arm 22b differs from the other arms solely by the fact that the arm- 2219 is not provided with any forwardly extending ears since: it is itself the foremost arm.- The front end. of the arm2'2b termi-l nates in a stopmember which cooperates with'a rearwardly extending projection of. the front wall` of thev support 11' to limit the downward movement of the arm 22jb with respect to the support 1.1., when the latter is turnedupwardlyj to: its inoperative position. l

The manner in which thesprings 24, 24a, and-'24B are connectedto the saddlesisclearly illustratedin Eig, 3 which also illustrates the width of the stops 31, 31a with respect to the support means 11. Furthermore, Figs. 1 and 3 clearly show the top wall 13 of the support means 11 to which the Stop'slf and 31a are fixed and through which the lug 15 of the catch 14 extends.

As is clearly evident' from Fig'. 4`, thel bores` at the rear end portions of the arms through which the pivot pins respectively extend are not cylindrical. Althoughk this structure is. shown in Fig. 4 only with respect to the connection between the arms 22a and 22b, the same structure is located. at the connection between the arms 22 and 22a. Thus, as may be seen from Fig. 4, the bore at the `rear end portion of arm 22b' has a minimum diameter at its central part and gradually becomes wider toward its ends so that in this wayV the top rolls carrying arms have a limited degree of free lateral movement. Thus, the top rolls' are capable'of automatically aligning themselves with the bottom rolls'.

Fig. 2 clearly illustrates the manner in which the top rolls are distributed with respect to the support 11, and furtlfiermorel Fig. 2cl'ear1y'shows how'the springs 32, 32a, and 32b act onthe't'op rolls carrying arms.

With the aboveV described structure the saddles 23, 23a, and 23b are rigidly fixed totheltop'ro'lls calrying arms, respectively, so that it is not possible to adjust the position. of thel top' rolls alongtl'ie` top. rolls carrying arms, respectively. However, under certain circumstances the bottom rolls are adjustable alongtheA drawing plane, and it isv therefore desirabler to'be able' to adjust the position of the top rollswitlr respect to' their arms so that the top rolls may cooperate properly WiththeY bottom rolls'. Fig. 6 shows a st'ructurecapalblev4 of accomplishing this result. Thus, Fig. 6 shows a Itop rolls carrying arm 40 which may replace any orall ofthe top rolls carrying arms described above. That is, one' or more of the top rolls carrying arms22, 22a, andv 22b may be replaced by an arm 40 as shown" in Fig. v6'.- Thisarm 40 is identical with thefabove described top rolls carrying arms to the extent that the arm 40' has anelongated portion 41 whose rear end portion 42 is' provided with a b'ore as illustrated in Fig. 4 or 5 through whr'clra pivot'pin passes. Furthermore the arm` 40 is provided'with a stop. member 44, 4S identical with the stop member 28, 29, and the arm 40 has a pair-of forwardly extending ears 43 adapted to carry a pivot pin' for' linking the arm 40 with another arm 40 which extends forwardly ,from the same.

However, the arn'r. 40d'oes notdirectly carry the top rolls through the medium of a saddle whichis integral with the arm 40. Instead axscrew: 47 is threadedly connected to the arm 40"and passes through a slot 4S of a saddle carrying member 46. This slot 48 is of a smaller width than the head of the` screw 47, so that this screw 47 may be; turned' in one direction to loosen the connection between the saddle member 46 and in another direction to fix the adjusted'position of the saddle member 46 withrespect to the arm 40. The saddle member 46 has' a forward saddlev portion 49, and a spring 50 is provided to maintainv the' top :rolls in their operative position in the saddle portion 49; y

It will be noted that with, the above describedv structure, asis-most clearly evident from Fig. 1, allot the topY rolls carrying arms; 22, 22a, and 22b are in a common plane'when the support meansl'l isv in its operating position, and this plane'is substantially parallel to the drawing plane. However, it is also p'ossibleinaccordancewith the present inventio'nlto locate the top rolls carrying arms in positions inclined tothe drawing plane, and such a variation is illustrateddiagrammatically in Figs. 7 andS. Thus, asA may be seen from Fig. 7, the support means 11c which is pivota'llyconnected` to the'frame means inthe same way as the supportmeansll" is' pivotally connected at'its rear end to a toprollscarrying arm50. This top rolls carryingv arm 5,0 is in turnv pivotally' connected at its forwdcnd .t0 a top rolls carryingarm 50a, and the top-rolls carrying arm 50a is pivotally connected at its front end to a top rolls carrying arm 50b. These top rolls carrying arms differ from those described above in that they are inclined with their rear ends located higher than the front end portions thereof to which the saddle members are fixed in the manner shown diagrammatically in Fig. 7. The front end of the arm 50 is provided with a pair of ears which extend upwardly with respect to the remainder of the arm 50 and which carry a pivot pin extending between these ears and pivotally supporting the rear end portion of the arm 50a which is also provided with a pair of upwardly extending ears at its front end which carry a pivot pin to which the rear end of the arm 50b is pivotally connected. As is shown diagrammatically in Fig. 7, the stop means for limiting the movement of the arms 50, 50a, and 50h with respect to the -support means 11e is substantially identical with the stop means described above. The remaining structure which is not illustrated in Fig. 7 is identical with that described above. Thus, the same or substantially similar springs may be used for urging the arms of Fig. 7 downwardly with respect to the drawing plane, and the bottom roll carrying structure and frame for supporting the support means 11e may be identical with that of Fig. l.

Fig. 8 shows an embodiment where the top roll carrying arms have front end which are located higher than their rear ends. Thus, the support means 11d which corresponds to the support means 11c is pivotally connected at its rear end to an arm 60 fixed to a saddle for carrying the rear top rolls. The arm 60 is provided at its front end with a pair of downwardly extending ears which carry a pivot pin extending between these ears, and the rear end portion of the top rolls carrying arm 60a is pivotally connected to this pivot pin. The arm 60a is in turn provided at its front end with a pair of downwardly extending ears between which extends a pivot pin which serves to pivotally interconnect the rear end of the top rolls carrying arm 60h with the front end of the arm 60a. Except for this variation the structure of Fig. 8 is identical with that of Fig. 7, and it is evident that with the embodiment of Fig. 8 the arms are inclined oppositely to the arms of Fig. 7.

Thus, it will be seen that with the structure described above an exceedingly simple and rugged arrangement is provided for vsupporting the top rolls of the drafting mechanism.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of drafting mechanisms differing from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in top roll carrying structure of drafting mechanisms, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can by applying current knowledge readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the following claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

l. In a drafting mechanism, in combination, frame means; elongated support means carried by said frame means for movement to and from an operating position located over the drawing plane; a rst top rolls carrying arm pivotally connected at one end to one of said means; a second top rolls carrying arm extending forwardly from said tirst arm and having a rear end portion pivotally connected to a front end portion of said first arm; and means engaging one of said armsfor urging the same downwardly toward the drawing planev when said support means is in said operating position thereof.

2. In a drafting mechanism, in combination, frame means; elongated support means carried by said frame means for movement to and from an operating position located over the drawing plane; a series of top rolls carrying arms located one behind the other and linked ing arms linked adjacent ends thereof to each other and l located one behind the other in a common plane when said support means is in said operating position thereof, one of sald arms being connected to one of said means;

and means engaging said arm-s for urging the same downwardly toward the drawing plane when said support means is in said operating position thereof.

4. In a ydrafting mechanism, in combination, frame means; elongated support means carried by said frame means for movement to and from an operating position located over the drawing plane; a series of top rolls carrying arms located one behind the other and pivotally connected adjacent theirends one to another, one of said arms being pivotally connected to one of said means; and means engaging said arms for urging the same down-v wardly toward the drawing plane when said support means is in said operating positionthereof.

5. In a drafting mechanism, in combination, frame means; elongated support means carried by said frame means for movement to and from an operating position located over the drawing plane; a pair of arms adapted to respectively carry top rolls pivotally connected adjacent y their endsv to each other, said arms being located one behind the other and one of said arms being connected to said support means; means engaging said arms for urging the same downwardly toward the drawing plane when said support means is in said operating position thereof; and stop means carried by said support means and said arms for limiting the downward movement of the latter with respect to one of said means.

6. In a drafting mechanism, in combination, frame means; elongated support means carried by said frame means for movement to and from an operating position located over the drawing plane; a plurality of top rolls carrying arms located one behind the other and pivotally connected adjacent their ends to each other, the rearmost of said arms being pivotally connected to said support means;

means engaging said arms for urging the same downwardly i toward the drawing plane when said support means is in said operating position thereof; and stop means carried by said support means and said arms for limiting the downward movement of the latter with respect to one of said means.

7. In a drafting mechanism, in combination, frame means; elongated support means carried by said frame means for movement to and from an operating position located over the drawing plane; a pair of arms located one behind the other and respectively having end portions linked to each other, one of said arms being connected to one of said means, and said arms being inclined to the drawing plane when said support means is in said operating position thereof; means engaging said arms for urging the same downwardly toward the drawing plane when said support means is in said operating position thereof; and stop means operatively connected to said support means and said arms for limiting the downward movement thereof with respect to said support means.

8. In a drafting mechanism, in combination, frame elongated-` support meansacarried4 byv saidframe; means fr movement ,toand from an .operating positioniercatedt over theA diawing7'plane; ,a. pair, of, top ,rolls carrying arms pivotall'y, connectedladjacentend's thereofI to each otherl andextending alongsaid support.means,oneof said` arms'bemgpivotally connected to. one of said means;l

meansengagingat leastone of.l said arms-for urging the same downwardly toward the drawingVv planevwhensaid, support means is in said' operatingposition.thereof; and` stop4 means connected' to said supportmeans andatleast.

endf portion thereof'to saidfr'ame for movement to and.

fom'anoperating position located overthe drawing plane; a vfirst' top roll'scarryingjarmpivotally connected' at. a rear end'thereof to said'support-for movement about the same axisthat said'AA support turns, about withrespect to said.

frame; said rstiarm having a forwardly extending portion at"the^f'ront" end thereof;asecond top rolls carrying arm havingrarear'end portion pivotally connected to said for.-

wardlyextending portion of. saidiirst arm and extending forwardly from the latter; means engaging. said arms for urgingjthe same Adownwardly toward'the drawing plane; a rst pair4 of stop members fixed to and extending from said irstand"v second arms, respectively; a second pair of stop members lixedto'said supportand respectively located inthe pathof'movement of 4said rst pair of stop members whensaidisupportismoved away from said'operating position thereof; and meansfor releasably holding said support'iir said operating positionthereof;

10i In a-l draftingmechanism, in combination, frame means; elongated support means connected to said frame means-formovement to and from an operating position located over the drawing plane; a first top rolls carrying arm having a rear end portion pivotally connected to onev ofisaid means and having a pairA of forwardly extending ears; a-l pivot'pin carried byy and'extending between said ears; a secondL top'roll'scarrying arm having a rear end portion` pivotallycarried'. by said pivot pin and extending forwardly from'the latter; means engaging saidarms for. urging the samev downwardly towardl the drawing plane when said' supportl means is in. saidoperating position thereof; and'stopmeans carried by said support means and.l

aseconcl-l top. rolls carrying', arm@A located. forwardlylofsaidz, reararm; and, having a? rear,endfportionv pivotallycon#` nectedto. afront endpfartiom ofi-said;l rear arm; afpairofiy substantially L-shapedsupport ,rn/'embers aixed toand;

extending upwardlyfromis-aid.. anns;,a,pair ofv stop members tixedztosaid supportand.located-inrthe:path of move.-v

ment of said L.shaped. members for. limiting? the. down-- wardmovement of saidarmswith respecttosaid: support; and spring, means engaging saidJ arms-for' urging vthe, same downwardly, toward: the .drawingplane when said support.-v

ing,is. inv itsvoperating, position..

12. In a drafting mechanism,:in combination, frame means;` elongated. supportrmeans carried by said frame. meansfor movementt to.. and from any operatingposition`l located over thetdrawing-.planmV ahrst. top rolls carrying. arm having arear end portionlpivotallyt connected to onex of. said means and having apairtof forwardly` extending,l

ears; ar pivot, pin. carried; by and. extending. between.V said ears;,a.second.top,roll's. carryingl arm having a rear end; portion formedlwith; a transversefopening through which said pivotfpin extends to.pivotally connect said second. armv to said. first: arm,. said transverse opening having between its ends a substantially.V central. portionv of a: minimumdiameterand.,becoming 4gradually wider ytoward itsends-so that said second. arm may` tilt laterally with respect to said. rst farm. in a: direction parallelV to the` drawing plane; and means engagingsaidarmsfor urging. they same. downwardly, toward. the. drawing plane when.

y saidsupportmea-ns is. in.said'operatingposition r thereof.. 1.3. In a. drafting mechanism, in, combination, frame*V means; elongated supportmeanscarried. by. said framev means for movementto and from an operatingposition locatedover the drawinggplane; a first top rolls carrying armpivotallyI connected atone. end to, one. of. said means; a. second' top rolls. carrying. arm extending forwardly. from said first arm andhaving-a. rear end portion pivotally connected to afr'ont. end portion otI said first arm; means. engagingfrone. of`said.. arms, for urging, the same downwardly'toward'the drawing plane when-saidsupport means is in said operating position: thereof; a saddle member located nextv to each of-.said'arms;,and adjusting means interconnecting each' saddle member with each arm for adjustingrtherposition.of said saddlemember longitudinally along saidarm.

References Cite'dfin the dile-ofy this patent:

UNITED- STATES PATENTS 2,675,587 Rible el; al. Apr. 20,. 1954 2,694,230 DauSC NOV. 16, 1954 2,751,632 DauSCh June, 26, 1956 FQKEIGN' `PETENTS 1,43'0 Great Britain4 Nov. 25, 1.893KVA 

